You never know what might happen when you watch WWE programming as fans found out when they watched SmackDown: New Year’s Revolution in January of 2024. The show featured the return of AOP and Paul Ellering, but it was reported on Friday that the former Raw Tag Team Champions have been released a little over a year after they returned to TV.
Fightful Select reports that AOP came into WWE with a bit of heat when they returned due to some of their outside projects. According to the report a few people put money into one of the projects, and they were upset about not getting the money back. One person in WWE noted that might have been the reason AOP were paired up with Karrion Kross as Kross is generally well liked.
AOP were under contract with WWE months before they returned to TV, and they were adamant that Paul Ellering return with them before they signed. Internally it was seen as a rough omen for AOP when they were hardly used on TV with Karrion Kross.
Following the feud between Final Testament and The Wyatt Sicks there were no creative plans for AOP and Ellering. In addition to AOP and Ellering, multiple WWE stars were also released on Friday and you can get more details on that here.